By Salam Saheed
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, Hon. Engr. Dr. Aderemi Abass Oseni, has unveiled a N90 million economic empowerment package for motor parts dealers at the Araromi Gate Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The intervention, comprising a N50 million interest-free revolving loan and a N40 million non-repayable grant, was announced on Saturday during a town hall engagement with traders, market leaders and stakeholders at the sprawling automobile spare-parts hub.
Oseni, who currently represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the initiative was designed to strengthen the productive capacity of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs operating within the market.
Under the arrangement, N50 million will be made available as an interest-free revolving facility to enable traders augment their inventories, improve liquidity and expand their commercial operations.
The additional N40 million grant, he explained, would be distributed across the four principal sections of the market—car, lorry, tyre and iron—to provide direct financial relief and stimulate business expansion.
The federal lawmaker further announced the donation of 100 solar-powered streetlights to the market, stressing that improved illumination would enhance security, discourage criminal activities and create a more conducive environment for commercial transactions, particularly after dusk.
He also pledged to personally undertake the payment of the monthly stipends of the market’s Baale and chiefs as part of measures to strengthen traditional administration, security and effective coordination within the commercial complex.
Oseni said the intervention was informed by his conviction that artisans, traders and other micro and small-scale entrepreneurs constitute an indispensable component of Ibadan’s economic architecture.
«“The motor parts dealers are critical drivers of the local economy. We must continue to support them so that they can expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute more to the economy.”»
On the N50 million revolving loan, the APC candidate said the facility would be disbursed in phases and administered in a manner that would guarantee sustainability and enable more beneficiaries to benefit from the scheme.
He similarly assured traders that the N40 million grant would be distributed equitably among the four sections of the market.
Speaking on the solar-powered streetlights, Oseni said the intervention was predicated on the understanding that adequate illumination could translate into greater commercial activity and improved public safety.
«“When you light up a market, you light up businesses. Traders can stay longer, customers can come safely, and the economy grows.”»
Mobilisation for Tinubu, APC
Beyond the economic intervention, the engagement also assumed a political dimension as Oseni solicited the support of the traders for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged members of the market community to remain supportive of the Tinubu administration, contending that the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms were gradually creating the conditions necessary for sustainable economic recovery and business growth.
Oseni also canvassed bloc support for APC candidates across Oyo State, expressing optimism that the party would regain its political foothold in the state.
«“With your support, with your votes, and with your prayers, APC will win convincingly in Oyo State. We are building a party that delivers.”»
Responding, the Chairman of Araromi Gate Market Motor Parts Dealers, Alhaji Ojo Azeez, commended Oseni for what he described as his sustained commitment to the development of his federal constituency and surrounding communities.
Azeez said the beneficiaries had taken cognisance of Oseni’s interventions and expressed confidence in his political prospects.
«“We believe in your achievements so far. By the grace of Almighty God, you shall defeat your opponents hands down.”»
The chairmen of the four major sections of the market—car, lorry, tyre and iron—also pledged their support for Oseni, President Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The Baale of the market, Alhaji Raimi Ewebiyi, alongside traditional leaders, traders and representatives of various groups, attended the engagement.
The development is expected to inject fresh momentum into the APC’s grassroots mobilisation efforts in Oyo South, particularly among traders and artisans whose commercial networks give them considerable influence across Ibadan and the wider senatorial district.
Araromi Gate remains one of Ibadan’s major automobile spare-parts clusters, with a large concentration of traders, artisans, mechanics, transport operators and other ancillary businesses.
The combination of financial intervention, infrastructure support and welfare commitments therefore gives the initiative both an economic and political significance as the 2027 electoral contest gradually gathers momentum.
For the APC, the intervention provides an opportunity to consolidate its engagement with organised market communities, while Oseni’s candidacy gains additional visibility as the party intensifies its grassroots mobilisation across the nine local government areas that constitute Oyo South Senatorial District.